Diocese: Diocese of New York and New Jersey
Deanery: New Jersey Deanery
Address
812 Grand St
Trenton, New Jersey 08610
Website: saintvladimir.org
Office: 908-494-3620
Church: 609-393-1234
Parish Contacts
Lay Leadership
Directions
General Location
St Vladimir Orthodox Church is located at 812 Grand Street in Trenton, the capitol of New Jersey. We are approximately half way between New York City and Philadelphia.
From South Jersey
Take 295 North to exit #60 (Rt 29/129). Follow signs to Trenton via Rt 129. At the first light make a right onto Lalor St. When you see Gallagher’s Bar on the right, take the first left, which is Dayton St. Just past the big middle school, turn right at the first stop sign onto Grand St. The Church is at the next corner (Grand and Stanton).
From the West
Take Rt. 31 south to Rt. 95 (towards Pennsylvania). Just before the river, take Rt 29 south into Trenton. After passing the State House on the left and ball park on the right, continue toward the tunnel. The exit for Lalor Street is off to the right just before the tunnel. Continue up Lalor Street past the supermarket on your left. When you see Gallagher’s on the right, take the first left, which is Dayton St. Just past the big middle school, turn right onto Grand St. The Church is at the next corner (Grand and Stanton).
From Philadelphia
Take I-95 N toward TRENTON. Merge onto US-1 N via exit number 46 toward MORRISVILLE (Portions toll) and travel 6.41 miles. Take the exit toward RT-29 and travel 0.11 miles. Stay straight to go onto S WARREN ST. The next light is JOHN FITCH WAY/NJ-29. Turn LEFT onto JOHN FITCH WAY/ NJ-29 S. Continue to follow NJ-29 S travelling 0.52 miles. Take the LALOR ST. ramp (right exit). The exit will swing you around to a traffic light. Stay straight to go onto LALOR ST/ CR-650 and travel 0.73 miles. Just beyond Gallagher’s Pub (right side) turn LEFT onto DAYTON ST. and travel 0.19 miles. At the next stop sign turn RIGHT onto GRAND ST. The Church is at the next corner to the left (Grand and Stanton Sts.)
From the North
Take the NJ Turnpike south to exit 7A and take Rt 195 west. Merge onto I-195 W via exit number 7A toward TRENTON and travel 5.32 miles. Merge onto S BROAD ST via exit number 2 toward US-206 and travel 3.06 miles. Turn LEFT onto STANTON ST. and the church is on the second street on the left-hand side.
Schedule of Services
Services are conducted mainly in English, with some occasional Slavonic interspersed throughout.
5:00 PM Great Vespers followed by Confessions.
Saturday Evening
9:45 AM Hours; 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy, followed by Coffee Hour.
Sunday Morning
Please see our website for the schedule of all other services.
Parish Background
The founding of St. Vladimir Orthodox Church began in October, 1915, when a group of approximately 30 Russian immigrants met and decided to organize a parish focused on ministering to the same population. At first the Divine Liturgy was served in a vacant church, but as the congregation grew the parishioners decided to build a church of their own using traditional Orthodox Christian architecture. They bought a parcel of land near the vacant church they had been using and, to save money, the parishioners dug out the land for the basement and foundation with their own hands. In 1917 the church building was completed and consecrated, and in 1918 the parish was incorporated in the state of New Jersey. During that same year, another tract of land was purchased to serve as the parish cemetery. Firmly established, the parish continued to grow and prosper despite the strife and political changes in Russia that continued to affect the lives and morale of the parishioners.
In 1926 Fr. Vladimir Lilikovich became pastor and during his five years of service the parish took on new life. A parochial school was established and in 1927 the Sisterhood of the Assumption of the Theotokos was organized. In 1932 Fr. Stakhy Borichevsky became pastor, an office he held until 1949 when he was succeeded by Fr. Paul Shafran. Fr. Paul served in this capactiy until 2002, when he was granted retirement and attached as Pastor Emeritus. Fr. Martin Kraus served the parish from 2002—2007. Archpriest Eugene Vansuch was assigned to the parish on January 1, 2008 and served for three months until his unexpected falling asleep in the Lord on March 23, 2008. May his memory be eternal. Fr. Jason Vansuch, son of Fr. Eugene Vansuch, replaced him shortly thereafter, remaining through June 7, 2013. Fr. John Diamantis was assigned June 8, 2013 and was relocated in 2015. Father Volodymyr Chaikivskyi was assigned as Pastor on November 29, 2015 and is the current priest.
In 1942 the parish built a two-story rectory. Five years later, additional land was purchased to expand the cemetery and another two lots were bought adjoining the rectory on Grand St. In 1951, the growing parish community made it necessary to enlarge the church building. After the enlargement was completed a new iconostasis was installed and the interior of the building was renovated. A decision was made to adorn the interior walls with Byzantine iconography and Mr. Pimen Sofronov was hired to design and execute the frescoes. After completing his work at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Syracuse, NY, Mr. Sofronov arrived in Trenton in 1954 and began his work with the icon of Christ for the iconostasis. After working day and night for two years, Mr. Sophronov completed the magnificent iconographic frescoes in 1956.
As the parish continued to grow in number it became clear that a church hall was needed to accommodate its educational and social activities. In 1959, Mr. Feodor Bonderchuk donated a corner plot of land next to the church in memory of his daughter, Daria. A few years later, a building fund drive was held and the hall was built. Daria Hall was dedicated on November 22, 1964. Another large and unexpected gift of land was received in 1965 when Mr. Peter Traskewicz donated more than ten acres of land in Hamilton Square to be used as a recreation area in memory of his wife, Nadezhda. Several men of the parish, led by Mr. John Chanczewsky, built a large picnic pavilion of steel. In 1997 the picnic grounds were the site of the parish’s first carnival, held May 21-24.
As Orthodox Christians, the main aspect of our life is to live and proclaim the Gospel of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. By living a Christian life according to the teachings of Our Lord and by allowing Christ to be the center of our lives, we will not only continue to build up our parish of St. Vladimir but more so we will be able to bring Christ to others and thereby be witnesses to our Orthodox Christian faith.
St. Vladimir Orthodox Church continues to grow. It continues to grow in faith and in love. It continues to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ not only within the Trenton Area but also throughout The New Jersey/Pennsylvania area. As a growing parish within the Trenton Community, we welcome everyone, especially you, to join us in prayer and in fellowship as we continue to support the growth of our beautiful Trenton community.
May God continue to bless and guide you with many more blessed years of good health and joy! Come grow with us! Come pray with us!
